Machine and method fob beinfobcing sheet matebial



M. R. HARRISON.- MACHINE AND METHOD FOR REINFORCING SHEET MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED APR-.17, 1916.

1,195,951. Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- WWW M. R. HARRISON. MACHINE AND METHOD FOR REINFORCINGSHEET MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED APR. IT, I9I6.

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MARY B. HARRISON, OF WIN'IHROP, MASSACHUSETTS. fiACHINE METHOD FORREINFOBGIN G SHEET MATERIAL.

Specification Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

Application filed April 17, 1818. Serial No. 91,648.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARY R. HARRISON, (formerly MARY R. CARNEY,) ofWinthrop,

in the county of Suffolk and State. of Massachusetts, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Machines and Methods forReinforcing Sheet Material, of which the following is a specification,said improveuients being in machines of the same general type andoperating upon the same principle as explained in my former applicationfiled February 24, 1914, Serial No. 820,451, renewal application filedMay 11, 1915, Serial No. 27 ,440.

This invention relates to the manufacture of a strong sheet material,such as rein forced paper, for any and all uses to which such materialcan be put, the machine and its principle of operation being also suchas to enable shipping tags to be rapidly and economically made.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved, simple,inexpensive and rap idly operating machine which enables strands, suchas thread, string, cord, wire or tape, to be secured between two sheetscross-wise of the latter or to be applied to the surface thereof eitherfor the purpose of furnishing tags or to provide said material withreinforcement. For the latter purpose it is best also to lead in strandslengthwise of the material.

For convenience of description I shall hereinafter chiefly refer to thesheet material as paper, but it is to be understood that I do not limitmyself to any specific sheet material.

The invention consists in the improvements which I shall now proceed todescribe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation andpart section of a machine embodying my present improvements. Fig. 2 is aplan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view of a portion of one ofthe endless carriers for causing the loops of strand material to travelalong is a detail view to illustrate trimmers 5O the edges of the formeror table. Fig. 4 which may be employed for the edges of the material.Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively seetional and side elevation details of apart of the ring-driving gearing. Fig. 7 is a detail view to illustratethe operation of the rings for carrying the transverse strand materialaround the table or former. Fig. 8 1s a view looking from the right ofFig. 7. Fig. 9 represents a transverse section of a former or tablehaving laterally convex upper and lower surfaces.

Similar reference characters indicate simi-- lar parts in all of theviews.

Referring chiefly to Figs. 1 and 2, a suitable framework is indicated at10,, said frame-Work being, however, in two sections to adapt saidframe-work to be lengthened if desired. 'Four webs of sheet material,such as paper, are indicated at 11, 12, 13 and 14, as passing throughthe machine from supply reels 11, 12, 13 and 14, respectlvely. The fourwebs and the rein forcing strands hereinafter described are drawnthrough the machine by suitably driven rolls 15, which alsoserve topress the layers together. Of course any number of pairs of rolls 15 maybe employed. Two, or all four of the webs of paper are coated with anadhesive supplied by means of rolls 16, in a well-known manner. Toreinforce the webs of paper longitudinally, four series of strands 17,18, 19 and 20 are led in from suitably mounted spools 17 18 19 and 20*,carried by stands Or racks 41.

A support for the sheet material to prevent the latter from beingcollapsed by the winding of transverse strands around it as hereinafterdescribed, comprises a table or former 21 which is suitably supported atone end by the frame of the machine, as by cross strips 46, 47, in aposition interposed between the webs 12, 13, the side edges of saidtable being provided withstrand conveyers, such as endless cords orchains 22 running in grooves in the edges of the table so that thetransverse strands hereinafter described, and which are wrapped aroundthe table and the webs 12, 13, will not bind along the edges of, thetable and interfere with said webs and the strands being drawn off fromthe support by action of the rolls 15.

To better engage the portions of the strands which pass around the edgesof the support or table 21, chains having serrated links, as indicatedin Fig. 3, may be employed. As hereinafter described, the two strandconveyors are positively driven, so that their outer stretches will movealong the edges of the table at thesame speed as that of the webs 12,13.

The support of table 21, if made of two parts or members as indicated inFig. 2, so that they may be laterally adjusted relatively to each otherto vary the width of the table as a whole, enables the product of themachine to be varied as to width. This is of special use when themachine is to be employed for the making of stringed tags as hereinafterdescribed, because of the desirability of having strings of greater orlesser length projecting from the tags, according to the use to whichany particular quantity of tags ordered is to be put.

One or more strand carriers traveling in an orbital path wrapping one ormore strands of reinforcing material around the support 21 and portionsof. the webs 12, 13,

which are above and below said support, due to advancing movement of thewebs in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, will result in thetransverse strand or strands being wound spirall around said support andthe two webs which are separated thereby. While the strand carrier orcarriers might include endless chains as illustrated in my said formerapplication, in the present drawings I illustrate two rings. One ofthese rings is illustrated at 23, and it carries brackets provided withspindles upon which are mounted spools 24 from which the strand materiala leads through guide eyes 25. By means of gearing, hereinafterdescribed, the supplemental ring 28 may be caused to rotate either withthe ring 23, or in a direction opposite thereto, or may be thrown out ofaction altogether. Said supplemental ring 28 carries brackets providedwith spindles for spools 29, the strands from which also lead throughguide eyes 25. Of course in practice suitable retarding devices may beemployed to prevent too free unwinding of the material from the spools24, 29. In starting the operation one end of each strand (1 is connectedin any suitable way as by an adhesive to one of the webs 12 or 13 andthen the rotation or travel of the strand carrier wraps the strand orstrands a around the table and the two webs of paper.

To trim the edges of the material and also separate the product into twosheets, each of double thickness, I may employ overlapping disk knives30, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4. I do not limit myself, however, totrimming at this point, as the entire four-ply material may be wound ona roll 33 and afterward unwound, dried if necessary, and trimmed and cutinto strips of any width. When trimming disks 30 are employed asillustrated, the adhesive-applying rolls 16 are of such length as toleave narrow margins of the webs un-coated in order to avoid having thecutters gummed up by adhesive. The operation described simultaneouslytrims the sheets and. disconnects them from each other. In order thatthe webs 11 and 14, and the longitudinal strands 17 and 20 may becarried directly into contact, preferably with some pressure, with andupon the intermediate webs, I provide rolls 40 closely adjacent to thesurfaces of the table near its delivery end.

The longitudinal strands are supplied by spools suitably mounted in fourracks 41, three of which may be near the base of the machine, and onesupported above it. The longitudinal strands 18 and 19 lead throughguide strips 44, a roll 45 deflecting both the strands 19 and the web 13on their way to the adhesive applying roll 16.

lVhen the machine is supplied with material as indicated in Figs. 1 and2, and operated, the strands (r are divided, so that as the entireplurality of webs issue from the machine, two sheets of product willresult. Inother words, after the action of the cutters 30, the webs 11and 12 with longitudinal strands and crossing transverse strands can bewound up on one reel while the webs 13 and 14 also having longitudinaland transverse reinforcing strands may be wound up on another reel.

It will be readily understood that the number of spools employed for thelongitudinal strands will control the lateral spacing of the latter, andthe number of spools employed for the transverse strands, or therelationship of the speed of travel of the paper webs and the strandcarrier or carriers will control the spacing of the transverse strands.

To drive the endless conveyers 22 positively, they are mounted uponsprockets, four of which are indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, theshafts of two of said sprockets having intermeshing pinions 49 (Fig. 7).Compounded with one of the pinions 49 is a beveled pinion 5O driven by abeveled pinion 51 carried by a shaft 52 having a sprocket 53, whichsprocket is driven by a suitable chain not necessary to illustrate. Thespeed of operation is such, of course, that the strand conveyors willalways travel at substantially the same speed as the speed of travel ofthe paper webs through the machine.

The shaft 32 which drives one or both rings 23, 28, is provided with abeveled pinion 60 (Figs. 1 and 5) meshing with another beveled pinioncarried by a driving shaft 61. Said shaft 32 carries a gear 62. which,through an intermediate gear 63, meshes with the toothed ring 64 carriedby the ring 23. In fact, the member 64 may be considered as a largeannular gear for the ring or strand carrier 23, the whole rotating in abearing 65, said bearing being cylindrical and the table extendingthrough said bearing. Another bearing 66, similar to the bearing 65,supports the supplemental ring or strand carrier 28, this latter carrieror ring ll'i having an annular gear 67 (Figs. 1, 5 and 6) which mesheswith and is driven by a gear 68 carrier by a shaft 69, said shaft havinga pinion 70 meshing with an intermediate pinion 71 the said intermediatepinion being mounted upon a suitably supported stud shaft 72. A sleeve73 splined on the shaft 32, has a pinion 74 adapted to mesh with thepinion 71. The other end of the sleeve 73 has a gear 75 adapted to meshwith the gear 68.

A pin 76 passes through the sleeve 73 and into either one of a seriesoflocking holes 77, 78, 79 in the shaft 32, said pin being normallypressed inwardly by a spring, but having a knob or finger piece by meansof which the pin 76 may be withdrawn from either one of said lockingholes. I do not illustrate the pin 7 6 in Fig. 1 because of the smallscale of that figure. It will be readily understood, however, bycomparing Figs. 1 and 5, that if the pin 7 6 be withdrawn and the sleeve73 and its two toothed members 74, 75 shifted from the positionindicated in Fig. 5 to that indicated in Fig. 1, the rotation of theshaft 32 which always is in a given direction, will actuate thesupplemental strand carrier 28, through the intermediate pinion 71, in adirection which will be opposite to the direction of movement that saidcarrier will have if the sleeve 73 and its toothed members are in theposition shown in Fig. 5. In other words, the shifting of the sleeve 73so that the pin 76 will occupy either the locking hole 77 or 79, willcause the supplemental strand carrier 28 to rotate either with oropposite to the strand carrier 23. If the pin 76 be caused to occupy theintermediate locking hole 78, neither of the toothed members 74, 75 willengage the toothed members 71, 68, and therefore the supplemental strandcarrier will remain idle. In this last case the strands that would besupplied by said supplemental carrier are, of course, omitted. That is,they will not be attached in any way so as to be wrapped around anddrawn along With the webs of paper.

The structure just described enables me to apply a large number oftransverse strands all in the same spiral direction, or to divide thesestrands so that they are applied spirally in .opposite directions, andwill cross each other more or less diagonallyaccording to the speed oftravel of the paper relatively to the speed of movement of the strandcarriers.

lVhen the entire plurality of webs are trimmed, two sheets of productwill result. In Other words, after the trimming, the webs 11 and 12 withintervening longitudinal strands and crossing transverse strands willconstitute one sheet of product which can be wound up on a reel ortreated as desired, while the webs 13 and 14', also having interyeninglongitudinal and transverse reinforcing strands, may be wound up onanother reel or otherwise treated.

I provide means for varying the angle of inclination of the transversestrands for one sheet of product relatively to the longitudinal strandsand edges of the paper if that should be desired. Said means asillustrated in the present machine comprise a guide finger 85 (Figs. 7and 8), which is inclined or curved so that as the ring 23, revolving inthe direction of the arrow w, in Fig. 7, carries the strands asuccessively down toward and over the edge of the table 21, each stranda will ride down over the inclined or curved finger 85 so that saidfinger will advance that portion of the strand in the direction of thearrow 3 in Fig. 8. To vary the amount of advance or forward laying of'the strands a, the finger 85 has a shank 86 mounted in a clamp 87 whichis adjustably mounted upon a pin or stud 88 supported by a bracket 89 ofthe frame 10. The finger may be shaped and adjusted so that each stranda, as it rides down, will be laid on web 12 at a right angle to theedges of the paper, thus producing, between webs 11 and 12, rectangularreinforcing. This will result, of course, in the return strands whichpass across the other or under surface of the table, having theirobliquity doubled. In other words, since the machine without the use ofthe finger 85 or some equivalent thereof will produce a spiral laying ofthe transverse strands, anything; to reduce the obliquity on one side ofthe table will correspondingly increase the obliquity on the other side.This feature is of special importance if the machine is employed formaking shipping or price tags. If the two webs 13,- 14, and thelongitudinal strands 19, 20 are omitted there will then be nothingpassing under the table 21 but the strands a. There need then be but twostrands a, both led through one guide 25. Suppose the table to be only12 inches wide or adjusted for that width, and that the webs ll, 12 areeach 12 inches Wide, and that the speed of advance of the paperrelatively to the speed of wrapping of a single pair of strands a asjust described, is such that the distance or space between successivespirals is 3 inches. By then cutting in the middle the strands whichpassed under the table, and cutting the paper after it leaves themachine, in the middle and cross-wise between the pairs of transversestrands, the result will be rectangular pieces of 2-p1y paper each 6x3inches, with a pair of strings a little over 6 inches long leading fromone end. If the finger 85 is properly used the pair of strings will bemidway of, and parallel with the longer edges of the tags.

lVhile the tags so produced may be utilized in the ordinary manner ofshipping tags, I consider that such articles are especially useful underconditions which do not require that they be weather-proof. Price tags,and tags that are simply to identify goods or articles in-doors arecapable of being economically produced at great speed with my machineoperated as above described. Of course the sheet material may be cutotherwise than just explained. For instance the transverse orcross-cutting may be'in such location that the strings are near onelongitudinal edge of each tag instead of at the mid-width.

For some purposes, the material produced by my method or machine, neednot include but one sheet or layer of paper or equivalent sheetmaterial, instead of two. That is, the covering webs or layers 11 and 14may be omitted, especially if the reinforcing strands are properlyconnected to the other webs or sheets 12, 13. This may be effected bymaking the upper and lower surfaces of the table laterally convex asindicated in Fig. 9 which represents a diagrammatic transverse sectionthrough such a table 21. This table will be of such length, or such aquick-drying adhesive employed, or blasts ture of the surfaces of thetable results in the strands being embedded in the adhesive materialwith which the exposed surfaces of the webs of paper are coated, due tothe pull of said strands as they are laid. Such a table is preferablyprovided with traveling chains 22 similar to those previously describedherein.

It is to be understood that Fig. 9 merely represents a modification inthe form of the support or table shown in Fig. 1, and that a machinehaving such a laterally curved support as indicated in'Fig. 9 would alsohave the other essential features like, or substantially like, thosehereinbefore described.

Material of either of the kinds described, when out into narrow strips,is useful for all of the purposes for which stay strips for boxes arenow employed, being stronger than the mere paper strips. and cheaperthan those which consist of woven cloth and paper. Such strips, whetherused for box corner stays or in lieu of strings for bundles or packages,are usually adhesive-coated on one side. For such purposes it is notnecessary to have the material consist of two sheets with interveningstrands. The material produced by a machine constructed as explained inconnection with Fig. 9 consists of but one web of paper with crossingstrands adhesively secured to one surface the strands, said strandsbeing then con fined between the one strand-carrying strip or sheet andthe surface of the article to which that strip or sheet is applied. Thismaterial is also useful for the edges of writing tablets and the backsof signatures in book binding.

If the two carriers which lay or wrap the transverse strands are run inopposite directions, and at such speed relatively to the speed oftravelof the paper as to cause the strands from the two carriers to cross eachother at, or substantially at, a right angle to each other, nolongitudinal strands need be run through the machine. The material soproduced I consider to be especially useful for the manufacture ofstrong envelops, much cheaper than the well-known clothlined envelopsnow in use.

By means of two strand carriers, moving in opposite directions, and withthe paper traveling at a relatively high rate of speed, the strands willbe laid to cross each other at a right angle, but diagonally to thepaper thereby producing ,an arrangement of the strands similar to thewarp and weft of bias-cut fabric. By a close arrangement of amultiplicity of spools of thread, the product is useful when gummed andcut to narrow width, as stay strips for paper boxes. For this purposethe longitudinal strands described need not be employed.

When the longitudinal strands are employed the guides, which determinethe lateral positions of strands 17 and 20 alternate with those whichdetermine the lateral positions of strands 18 and 19.' Since thetransverse strands a are wrapped around the latter and not the former,this results in said transverse strands being alternately above andbelow the longitudinal strands in a manner similar to the passing ofweft threads of woven fabric alternately above and below the warpthreads.

I have mentioned a way of using the machine to make tags having tyingstrings, and referred to leading two strands a through one guide eye 25.This, of course, would lay the two strands close together, and sometimesthey will twist so as to cross each other. But. if the two strands areled through different guides they will be laid with a space between themaccording to the distance between the two guides employed. If the twoguides used are next each other, the strandscan not cross or twist andyet will. be laid very close together; while if the two guides selectedfor use are a greater dislutely prevent it from turning over.

tance apart, the strands may be laid with a space of an inch or morebetween them. This last method of use produces tags with two tyingstrings so widely spaced that when tied to an article with an address orprice-announcing surface outermost, it will remain so and not turn ortwist about to show the wrong side.

The machine can also be used to make tags rapidly with one or more tyingstrings extending from each end so that the tag can be secured in amanner that will absIo- 0 make such tags, four webs of paper are ledthrough as illustrated in Fig. 1, but the' webs are considerablynarrower than the table. For instance, with a table 12 inches wide, ifthe webs are four inches wide, and are afterward cut only transverselybetween the strands a and not longitudinally, and the portions of thestrands which passed over the edges of the table are simply severed,thus leaving no waste of string, the projecting portions of the stringwill be four inches long. Of course the length of the tying strings willbe according to the relative widths of the table and the Webs of paper,and may be as preferred for particular uses.

It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the details'ofconstruction illustrated, nor size or, dimensions, as the principle ofmy invention 'may be embodied in many different sizes or differentlyproportioned machines according to the width of the material producedand the character or quality of the sheet and strand materials that areto be combined.

Having now described my invention in one or more of its embodimentswithout attempting to describe all possible modifications, what I claimis:

1. A machine of the character described, comprising, means for causing aplurality of strips of sheet material to travel in the direction oftheir length, means for laying strand material transversely of saidstrips, means whereby the angle of the strand material relatively to thestrips may be varied, and means for uniting said strips with the strandmaterial confined between them. 2. A machine of the character describedcomprising means for causing a plurality of strips of sheet material totravel in the direction of their length, a strand carrier movable aroundone of the strips to wrap a strand spirally about it, means whereby thestrand may be deflected as it is carried into contact with one surface.of the strip, and means for adhesively connecting said strips at a pointbeyond the location of the strand carrier.

3. A machine of the character described comprising means for causing aplurality of strips of sheet material to travel in the direction oftheir length, a strand carrier movable around one of the strips to wrapa strand spirally about it, an adjustable finger for deflecting thestrand as it approaches one surface of the strip, and means foradhesively connecting said strips at a point beyond the location of thestrand carrier.

4:. A machine of the character described, comprising a'carrier forimparting an orbital path of movement to strand material, means forfeeding sheet material through said path, a support for preventing thesheet material from being collapsed by the strand material, conveyersfor preventing the strand material from binding on the support, meansfor positively driving said conveyers, and means for uniting the sheetmaterial and strand material.

5. A machine of the character described, comprising a carrier forimparting an orbital path of movement to strand material, means forfeeding. sheet material through said path, a support for preventing thesheet material from being collapsed by the strand material, chainshaving portions arranged to travel along the edges of the support, meansfor positively driving the chains, and means for uniting the sheetmaterial and strand material.

6. A machine of the character described, comprising means for causingtwo strips of sheet material to travel in the direction of their length,means for applying an adhesive to the outwardly facing surfaces of saidstrips, a strand carrier movable around the strips to wrap a strandspirally about them and in contact with the said adhesive, and means forsimultaneously trimming ,the sheet material and cutting the strands todisconnect the two strips.

7. A machine of the character described, comprising means for causingtwo strips of sheet material to travel in the direction of their length,means for applying an adhesive to the outwardly facing surfaces of saidstrips, a strand carrier movable around the strips to wrap a strandspirally about them and in contact with the said adhesive, a support forpreventing the sheet material from being collapsed by the strandmaterial, and means for simultaneously trimming the sheet material andcutting the strands to disconnect the two strips.

8. A machine of the character described, comprising two carriers forimparting orbital paths of movement to strand material, means forfeeding sheet material through said paths, a support'for preventing thesheet material from being collapsed by the strand material, and meansfor moving said carriers either in the same direction or in oppositedirections.

9. A machine of the character described, comprising two carriers 'forimparting orbital paths of movement to strand material,

means for feeding sheet material through said paths, a support forpreventing the sheet material from being collapsed by the strand'material, and means for moving said carriers either in the samedirection or in opposite directions, or permitting one to remain idlewhile the other operates.

10. A machine of the character described, comprising two carriers forimparting orbital paths of movement to strand material, means forfeeding sheet material through said paths, a support for preventing thesheet material from being collapsed by the strand material, and meanswhereby either one or both of the carriers may be driven.

11. A machine of the character described, comprising a support having afree end,

v means for feedin sheet material along said support, means oradhesively coating the sheet material, means for Wrapping strandmaterial around both the support and the coated sheet material, and apressingroll adjacent the surface of the support near its free end.

12. A machine, of the character described,

drawing individual strands into contact a with the adhesive-coatedsurface of the sheet material.

13. A machine of the character described, comprising a support havinglaterally curved surfaces, means for feeding sheet material along saidsurfaces, means for coat ing the outer surfaces of the sheet materialwith adhesive, and means for wrapping strand material around both thesupport and the sheet material.

14:. The method of providing reinforced material, consisting in wrappingstrand ma- 7 terial around longitudinally moving other material,deflecting the'strand material during ii. portion of its travel, anduniting the W o e.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

MARY R. HARRISON.

